The Town of Battleford hopes to have a community run for cancer on Oct. 1. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Raising awareness

Fundraiser run for cancer planned at Finlayson Island

May 15, 2023 | 10:00 PM

The Town of Battleford hopes to have a community run for cancer on Oct. 1 at Finlayson Island.

During council’s meeting Monday, Mayor Ames Leslie said he is working with Robin Speer on the initiative. Speer is on the Canadian Cancer Society national board of directors and is based in the Battlefords. He currently serves as chair of the Saskatchewan Provincial Advisory Council and vice chair of the National Council with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Leslie said he has been communicating with Speer about the initiative for the last couple of months.

“We’re going to put something together,” the mayor said. “He let me know it’s at the conceptual stage. We can always change it, but we booked October 1st for that date. It’s going to be a run for breast cancer. We’re going to try to make it a big day to bring awareness for cancer in general. It should be a lot of fun.”

“Hopefully, I have a few months to get in shape and be able to run,” Leslie added with a chuckle.

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On a personal note, Leslie has been dealing with a form of cancer himself, and has recently finished his last round of treatments after three months. He is now back full-time and has returned to leading council meetings again. Leslie said following a prior council meeting that fortunately he had a curable cancer that could be treated.

On the plans for the run, when reached by battlefordsNOW, Speer said the event will be a Run for the Cure, to raise awareness and funds in support of those impacted by breast cancer.

“The event is typically in major cities, but being from here and living here, and with so much great community spirit and support from businesses and individuals in the area – and the beautiful gem of Finlayson Island, I thought it made good sense to host a local event right here at home in the Battlefords,” he said in a Facebook message.

More information about the event will be available as the details are released.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow